Machine adapted for use as a motor, meter, pump, and propeller



, PUMP, AND PROPELLER.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

APPLICATION FILED DEC, I3. 1918 3 SHEETSSHEET Inventor. William D. Hersedt 'l'zness w. D. BALLE RSTEDT. MACHINE ADAPTED FOR USE AS A MOTOR,'METER PUMP, AND PROPELLER- APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, I918.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ywvlllllflll/llw $2 I n-mwr t .d m W5 an. lam/1 w W. D. BALLERSTEDT. MACHINE ADAPTED FOR USE AS A MOTOR, METER, PUMP, AND PROPELLER- 1,360,353.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.13|19I8.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- I .1Q Q 7v w/ D M m -u W UNITED, "STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

.VTILLIAll/I .D. BALLERSTEDT, DE LOS ANGELES, CAIFORNIA.

MACHINE ADAPTED FOR USE AS A MOTOR, METER, PUMP, AND PROPELLER. 7

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30. 1920.

Application filed December 13, 1918. Serial No. 266,593.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAMD. BALL R- STEDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Elmo Hotel, 343 North Main street, Los Angeles, California, have invented a new and useful Machine Adapted for Use as a Motor, Meter, Pump, and Propeller,

of which the .following' is a specification.

An object of this invention is to provide a device for transmitting power from or to a fluid for various purposes, for instance, as for utilizing the expansive power of steam or gas or air and the hydraulic power of any liquid to drive machinery and also to so construct the machine that it may be used to apply power from a motor to a liquid for pumping the same or for propelling a vessel and may also be applied to a fluid such as air ror the purpose of compressing the same.

' for water craft such as motor boats, and is applicable to such craft to operate entirely below the water line.

An object is to construct'a propeller of this kind which can be operated at the lowest possible depth so as to a ply the power to the water'at such a dept as toavoid lateral diffusion of the force. That is to say, an object of this invention is to provide a propeller for water craft which will operate to drive the liquid directly along the course to which it is applied to drive the vessel so that there will be practically no slippage, and the speed of the vessel will approximate the speed of the propeller.

An object'of the invention is. to make elevationof the prow of the boat as the speed increases with the operation of the screw propellers.

-An object is to provide a propeller for vessels which will have no limitation because of centrifugal action. That is to say, in the case of screw propulsion, too high revolution of the ropeller results simply between the case and the tion.

in rotation of the propeller to cut a hole in the water without driving any water along.

the line of desired travel while with thisinvention the higher the speed of thepropeller,

--.the greater is'the amount of'water driven Another object is to provide a rotary steam motor in which the use of packing otary impellers may be dispensed with.

he invention is broadly new, primary, basic and pioneer in that there are combined'with a chamber having a circular wall segment arranged between entrance and exit ways, a plurality of abutments connected together and revoluble on an axis concentric to said wall, pistons movable centrifugally and centripetally between abutments, means.

to revolve said abutments and pistons, and means to operate said pistons cntrifugally and centripetally in alternation conformable to the revolution.

Other objects and advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention and applied to a ship as a propeller and steering device.

Fig. 2 is a broken'plan view of the after portion of said ship, showing the apparatus and driving mechanism therefor in place the propellers being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the apparatus detached and viewed from line 00 Fi 1.

ig. 4 is a fragmental side elevation of one member of the apparatus. Parts of the case are broken away to expose interior construc- Fig. 5' is a elevation of one member of rotary engine, a pump, .or a meter mechanism. Fig. 6 is a section ongl'ine as. Fig. 5. v

- Figs. '1 and 8 areir'agmental elevations in sections showing two forms of the case 1 the apparatus when adapted to be used as a I on line 00 -00 Fig. 6 and also two forms of links with the parts in different positions.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the' movable pistons.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the cast or forged links for connecting one end of the movable pistonsv to the eccentric stationary or dead shaft.

Fig. 11 is a detached fragmental elevation of parts secured together by stamped links.

Fig. 12 shows the stamped links that may be used instead of the cast or forged links for connection between the piston and the eccentric shaft.

Thedriving abutments l are circularly arranged in fixed relation to each other to revolve around a' common axis 2, which is the center of the case or chamber 17, and each is provided on one side with a tangential curved face 3 and there is a pocket 4 between each two successive abutments. Within said faces there are provided swinging pistons 5 that are adapted to revolve with said abutments and to be oscillated centrifugally during a portion of the revolution of said abutments around their common axis 2, and centripetally during another portion of the revolution, so that at a certain period of each cycle each piston may effect expulsion of fluid from its pocket, and during a portion of the cycle it will-operate to effect admission of fluid to said pocket.

In the form shown the abutment s 1 are fixed to two side rings 6 by suitable means as the screw bolts 7 and said rings are journaled upon a central bearing 8 that is coaxial with the center of revolution. The pistons 5 are pivotally connected to the driving abutments. respectively by the pivots 9, and, as is clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8, each piston is so arranged as to extend from one abutment to a successive abutment during the completerevolution of the abutments and is respectively operable relative to the adjacent segmental face of the next abutment. The pivots 9 are arranged near the outer ends of the'abutments and the swinging ends of the pistons are conformed to the tangential curved faces 3 of the abutments, so that the pistons may oscillate without forming an opening between port and piston. Said faces and the heels of the pistons are curved in the form of the segment of a cylinder that is described from the pivot 9 of the pistons. A fixed or dead shaft 10 is arranged as a purchase or fulcrum, eccentricthe abutments to be driven by oscillation of the pistonsj'and to this end there isprovided on one or both of'the rings 6, gear teeth 13, meshing with gear teeth 1 on a pinion 15, that is connected to a power shaft 16.

In case of watercraft as in F igs. 1 and 2, it -is important that the pockets 4 be of maximum size when the tangential faces 3 of the abutments enter the Water or when they become operative for propulsion, and the line 2-2 on which the axis 2 of rotation or revolution of the abutments and the axis 10 of revolution of the links are located is practically horizontal so .that after the abutments enter the water the water will be forced backward and power to advance the vessel forward will'be applied during the movement of the abutment in the water or other supporting fluid medium throu h a portion of the under stroke, but as the plston approaches the rear side of the circle it is oscillated to expel the fluid from said circle so that but comparatively little if any of such fluid will be carried over the wheel.

In this arrangement the pistons operate centrifugally with the force of gravity to expel the water onthe under side of the circle, and they operate centripetally with the force of gravity to free the abutments so thatthey may again act propulsively upon the water in which the vessel is afloat.

The apparatus just described may be operated for thenpropulsion of a body as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 provided that the propeller case 17 containing the pistons and abutments is open at the lower side, front and back, as indicated at 18 in Figs. 3 and 4. A device of this character may be applied on opposite sides of the keel K of the vessel M,-

and the shaft 16 may be driven by any suitable power means. In Fig. 2 connection is shown through gearing 19 with a propeller shaft 20, adapted to drive a screw propeller 21. Clutches N are provided for steering.

When the apparatus is intended for use as a pump as shown in Fig. 7 the case has inclosin below t e axis of revolution on opposite sides of the intake A, and outlet B. The interior construction is practically just the same as that described. The intake A and the outlet B are in proportions adapted for taking in the fluid and discharging it with minimum resistance to the power that drives the abutment-s.

ii here the device is intended to be used as a meter instead of a pump, or as a water power, the fluid will be admitted at B and emitted A, and may drive shaft 16.

In the'form shown in Fig. 8 and which is adapted as an engine using an expansive fluid, the inlet C is in the form of a contracted nozzle while the outlet D is expanded and adapted to allow the expanded medium to segmental walls 22, 28, above and pass out freel The.case is shown otherwise practicaly the same as in the form shown in Fig.

With the forms shown'in Figs- 7 and 8,

when fluid under pressure is admitted to the right-hand inlet as at B or as at C, it acts upon the abutment and also upon the piston adj acent the inlet. The application of force that is fixed to the rings that are journaled;

on the central bearing 8. The area upon which said pressure is applied with a tendency to force the piston in and thus to advance the pin' 9, is greater than the area upon which the force is applied with a tendenc to a reverse ope ration and consequently sucli pressure causes the revolution of the abutment in the direction indicated by the large arrow in Fig. 8. That is tosay, from the lower right'toward the left.

By reference to Fig. 8 it may be noted that i the pocket 4 which is receiving the charge of the fluid from the nozzle C will expand responsive to the expansion of the fluid as the pocket revolves toward the left, and such expansion of the pocket is adapted to accom- Imodate the expansion ofthe fluid, such as steam which is in the lowermost pocket and in this way the expansion of the steam continues to be'eflective after the abutment has pas ed the horizontal line l22.

y using appropriate expedients well understood in the art, but not shown in the drawings, a predetermined amount of steam or other expansive medium may be admitted to a pocket and therein expanded from the time abutment -1 has passed the line z-z until the pocket reaches the outlet. The relative parts may be so calculated that the expansion of the steam may be completed practically at the time the abutment reaches the exhaust D.

It is. understood that the application of the having two opposite portsasjthe inlet and outlet shown in Fig. 7 and those shown in Fig. 8; but it is understood a different number of-abutments and pistons may be provided without entirely departing from the spirit of this invention.

In Fig. 6 for instance the rings 6 are rovided with outer and inner flanges 6 an 6" by means of plates 24: that are wider than the ring bodies and extend over the joints formed between the peripheral and central edges of said rings and the peripheral walls 22, 23,

in the one instance and the bearing 8 in the other instance. Said plates are fixed to the rings by suitable means as the screws 25 and the ends of pivot pins 9 are shown extended into holes in .said plates.

In practice the parts are constructed to prevent leakage and with that end in view the flanges 6' have a working fit with the case, and the gear chamber 26 is closed steam tight by cap 27 and stufling box 28; One side 1 wall 29 of the case 100 is of one piece with the peripheral walls 22, 23, and the opposite side wall is'a separate plate 30 secured by screws 31 to the peripheral walls. The central bearings are shown integral with the respective side walls and provided with race- Wa s 32 for the bearing balls 33 inserted in a we 1 known way as through ports 34 closed by suitable means asthe screw plugs 35.

The pistons 5 measurably conform on their outer faces to the inner face of the peripheral wall 22; and this conformity is such as tocause a near fit of the heel of the piston to the segmental wall'at one side of the circular chamber inside the case. This is also true withthe outer ends or edges of the abutments during the entire travel around the chamber so that as the abutments and pistons revolve adjacent the segmental walls there is no communication between the pockets except as the abutments pass the inlet or outlet.

'By mounting the dead shaft 10 in fixed relation to the-case in a plane which lies below the top margins of the openings, the.

length to practically bridge between the in-.

let and the outlet openings so there will be no contraction'of the space except when the spacebetween the abutments communicates with'an -opening1;;;otherwise there Wlll be a tendency to lock-when the device is used as a pump, a motor or a meter.

- Provision must also be made for circulation of the liquid within the space or pockets inclosed by the abutments and the pistons; and with this object in View opencast links 11 or stamped side links 11 may be used. In Figs. 8, 11, and 12 a 'form of links'iis shown somewhat different from what is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 10.

The links 11 are arranged in sets or pairs as indicated in Fig. 11 where the eyes of several links are marked in the pairs a, a, 6,1); c,c,'d,al.

There are four abutments for the reason that this gives the greatest effectiveness in applying the principle in all of its forms and for all of the purposes to which it is adapted or intended and the closed space between the margins e, f, of the passages or openings A, B, is less than 180 degrees so that there are always two, and never more than two abutments cooperating with the segmental wall between the entrance and exit B on the under side.

The limbs are constructed and arranged in each form with a view to allow free regurgitation of the liquid inside the pistons as will be understood from the open double links shown in Figs. 7 and 12 and the spaced flat links shown in rigs. 8 and 12.

The dead shaft 10, is eccentric to the rings and to the spur gear and the abutments and wall of the case form tight joints throughout so that in any of the forms shown the liquid is taken at one side and is forced out at the other side when power is applied to the shaft 16 to drive said rings.

The shifting of the pistons relative to the abutments and relative to each other and to the walls of the case and to the eccentric shaft causes expansion and contraction of the pocket space inclosed between the case on one side and any two abutments and the interposed piston between said abutments.

The eccentric shaft and annular case are arranged with such relation to each other and to the pistons, that the size of the pocket space between two adjacent-abutments, the piston, and the annuiar Wall, remains about at the maximum as such pocket moves from the inlet to the outlet, and said pocket space remains reduced from the outlet to the inlet. This is effected by placing the eccentric shaft nearer to the outlet than to the inlet as the same are established by revolution in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig; 8. Saideccentric shaft is preferably located on the horizontal diametrical plane which bisects the rings and also the inlet and outlet.

The sides are shown provided with circular bearings which may be grooved as indicated at 32 for ball bearings 33. Thesefluid, the greater will be the friction of the shoes against the peripheral wall, so that, especially when the rotary element'is operated under a high pressure, the parts are caused to wear out in a short time. Moreover, as the fluids pressure upon the shoes varies during the revolution of the rotary element, the inner peripheral wall of the pump case is thus Worn unevenly, so that considerable leakage of the fluid may occur and interfere with the effective operation of such devices and soon render them useless for practical purposes.

On the contrary, as in my invention the abutments l are fixed to the rings 6, which are concentric with the case 17, the friction of the abutments against the peripheral walls 22 and 23 is not influenced by a varying pressure of the fluid in which the abutments operate, but is uniform at all times, and, whether my device is used as a pump, a motor or a meter, or operated for any other purpose for which it may be adapted, the fluid in which it operates will in a great measure act as a lubricant for the abutments and facilitate their free running and thereby prevent, their wearing out from frictional engagement with the peripheral walls. Again, as each piston 5 extends from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments, the action of the fluid upon the pistons during the.(;omplete revolution of the abutments has a tendency to force the pistons away from the peripheral walls and thus prevents binding of the pistons against the walls and further assures the free running of my device.

I claim,

1. The combination with abutments in fixed circular arrangement relative to each other; of means to revolve the abutments; and means revolving with the abutments and extending from each abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments, said means forming pockets with the abutments and being adapted to enter the pocket spaces between said abutments at one portion of the revolution and to retract from said spaces during another portion of the revolution.

2. The combination with abutments revoluble on a commoncenter and in fixed relation to each other; of pistons revoluble with the abutments, each piston being arranged to extend from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; means operably connected to said abutments and said pistons to revolve the abutments and pistons; and means to move the pistons toward the periphery of the circle generated by said abutments during revolution; the pistons operating centrifugally during a portion ofeach revolution and centripetally during another portion of such revolution.

3. The combination with abutments spaced apart and circularly arranged in fixed relation to each other and adapted to be revolved on a center of revolution; of pistons adapted for occupation of and retraction from the spaces between said abutments, each piston being arranged to extend from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; means to revolve the abutments and pistons; and means to move said pistons centrifugally during a portion of each revolution and centripetally during another portion of such revolution.

4:. The comblnation with two rings, of

abutments fastened to said rings and arrangedin a circle; pistons operable to move centrifugally and centripetally between said abutments, each piston being arranged to extend from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; a shaft eccentric to the center of revolution of said abutments and pistons; and links revoluble about said'shaft and connected to said pistons'to operate the pistons centrifugally during a certain por- .tion of the revolution of the abutments and centripetally during another portion of the revolution of the abutments.

5. The combination with two rings, of abutments fixed to said rings and spaced apartin circular arrangement; pistons between said rings and abutments, each pivo ted at one end to an abutment and having a moving fit at the other end with an adj acent abutment during thecomplete revolution of the abutments; power transmission means operably connected to the rings; a fixed shaft eccentric to the rings; and links journaled to the fixed shaft and pivoted to the free ends of the pistons to cause said pistons to oscillate relative to said adjacent piston faces as'the abutments revolve.

6. The combination with a case open at the front and back; of a bearing concentrlc to the case; a ring mounted on said bearing; a second bearing eccentric to the case; links journaled on the eccentric bearing; abutments fixedto the ring and adapted to. revolve therewith; swinging pistons pivoted at one end to the abutments respectively and connected at the other end with the links respectively, eachppiston being arranged to extend from one abutment tosa successive abutment. during the complete revolution of the abutments; and power {transmitting imeans in connectionwith the ring. v

7. A device of the character set forth comprising a chamber;;dr1v1ng abutments said pockets as the abutments and circularly arranged within the chamber in fixed relation to each other to revolve around a common axis which is eccentric t0 the l chamber; said abutments being provided on one side with a tangential curved face and there being a pocket between each two successive abutments; swinging pistons within said curved faces adapted to revolve with said abutments to oscillate centrifugally during a portion of the revolution around a common axis and centripetally during another portion of the revolution, so that at a certain portion of each cycle, each piston may effect expulsion of fluid from its pocket and during a portion of the cycle it will effect admission of fluid to said pocket; means pivotally connecting one end of said pistons to the abutments respectively, each piston being arranged to extend from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; a shaft eccentric to the axis of revolution; and means connecting the other ends of said pistons to said eccentric shaft for the purpose of oscillating the pistons as they revolve around the axis of revolution.

8. In a device of the character set forth a case having side walls; abutments arranged to revolve between said side walls; oscillating pistons so arranged between the abutments that each piston extends from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments, there being pockets formed thereby between the succeeding abutments; and means to oscillate said pistons to contract and enlarge pistons revolve.

9. In a device of the character set forth a case having side walls and peripheral circular walls forming a circular chamber; abutments arranged to revolve with said walls and with a working fit relative therer to; oscillating pistons so" arranged between the abutments that each piston extends from one abutment-to a successive'abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments, there being pockets-formed thereby between the succeeding abutments; and means to oscillate said pistons to contract and enlarge said pockets as the abutments and pistons revolve; the outer faces of the pistons conforming measurably to the curvature of the peripheral walls.

10. A machine of the character set forth comprising a case with sidewalls and having openings at the front and rear between said side walls and also having peripheral walls that are segments of a definite circle;

circular rings at said side walls inside the pivoted at their butts to said links and fixed at their tips to the rings so as to rotate wlth the rings, the heels of said abutments measurably conforming to the curve of said segments;-and pistons conforming to the curve of said segments and pivoted to the rims and to the tips of said abutments, the heel of each piston being drawn to a radius from the pivot at the tip of the piston, the front face of each piston conforming to a cylindrical surface generated from the axis of the pivot at the tip of the piston to which it conforms, and each piston being arranged to extend from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments. r

11. The combination with a case forming a chamber and having oppositely arranged inlet and outlet passages to and from the chamber; of abutments in fixed circular arrangement relative to each other within the chamber and revoluble between the passages; means to revolve the abutments; and means revolving with the abutments and extending from each abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments, said means forming pockets with the abutments and being adapted to enter the pocket spaces between said abutments at one portion of the revolution and to retract from said spaces during another portion of the revolution.

12. The combination with a case forming a chamber and having oppositely arranged inlet and outlet passages to and from the chamber; of abutments revoluble on a common center in fixed relation to each other within the chamber; pistons revoluble with the abutments, each piston being arranged to extend from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments means operably connected to said abutments and said pistons to revolve other within the chamber and adapted to be revolved on a center of revolution pistons adapted for occupation of and retraction from the spaces between said abutments, each piston being arranged to extend from one abutment to a successive-abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; means to revolve the abutments and pistons; and means to move said pistons centrifugally during a portion of each revolution and centripetally during another portion of such revolution. 14. The combination with a case forming a 'chamber and having oppositely arranged inlet and outlet passages to and from the chamber; of two rings; abutments fastened to said rings and arranged in a circle within the chamber and between the inlet and outlet passages; pistons operable to move centrifugally and centripetally between said abutments each piston being arranged to extend from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; a shaft eccentric to the center of revolution of said abutments and pistons; and links revoluble about said shaft and connected to said pistons to operate the pistons centrifugally during a certain portion of the revolution of the abutments and centripetally during another portion of the revolution of the abutments.

15. The combination with a case forming a chamber and having oppositely arranged inlet and outlet passages to and from the chamber; of two rings; abutments fixed to said rings and spaced apart in circular arrangement within the chamber; pistons between said rings and abutments, each pivoted at one end to an abutment and having a moving fit at the other end with adj acent abutments during the complete revo links journaled to the eccentric bearings;

abutments fixed to the rings and adapted to revolve therewith; swinging pistons pivoted at one end of the abutments respectively and connected at the other end with the links respectively, each piston being arranged to extend from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; and power transmitting means in connection with the rings.

17 A machine of the character set forth comprising a shaft; spur gears on said shaft; a'case having a circular peripheral wall; rings inside the case provided with peripheral spur gears meshing with the spur gears of said shaft and adapted to. rotate said rings; said peripheral wall being constructed with a segment coaxial with said rings; abutments fixed to the rings and adapted to rotate therewith; pistons in pivotal relatlon to the rings, each piston having its face adjacent to the pivot of another piston drawn to a radius from its own pivot, the heel of each piston conforming to the adjacent face of its succeeding abutment, and each piston being arranged to extend from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; a dead shaft fixed to the case eccentric to the rings; and links connecting the heels of the pistons to said dead shaft.

18. The combination with side walls, of a dead shaft fixed to said walls; rings journaled to said side walls said dead shaft being eccentric to said rings; pistons pivoted to said rings; abutments fixed to said rings at the pivots of the pistons and adapted to rotate with the rings,.each piston being arranged to extend ,from one abutment to a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; links connecting the abutments to said shaft; and spun gear means operably connected to the rings.

19. The combination with a dead shaft, of links journaled thereto; rings and abutments fixed together and revolving eccentric to the shaft; pistons pivoted to the links at one end and the abutments at the other end, each piston being arranged to extend from one abutmentto a successive abutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; means to hold the pivots in circular "arrangement eccentric to the shaft, and

outer and inner edges to the rings; the outer edges of said pistons running close to said segmental walls, and the inner edges of said istons being oscillatable; abutments conormed to the oscillating edges and fixed to said rings so as to rotate with the rings, each piston being arranged to extend from one=abutment to a successiveabutment during the complete revolution of the abutments; and means to oscillate such edges as the case and rings relatively revolve.

In testimong whereof I have hereunto set my hand at orosolvay, Californimthis 5 day of December 1918.

WILLIAM D. BALLERSTEDT.

Witness:

JAMES R. TOWNSEND. 

